Electrolytic apparatus



Dec. 2, 1958 E. O. BERGHAUS ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. 10. 1954- I' i' LH:

FIG: 2

' INVENTOR. I 2M1 0M 4 94m BY United States Patent ELECTRULYTIC APPARATUS Ewald Oberste Berghaus, Berlin, Germany, assignor to Pintsch Barnag Aktiengese'llschaft, Berlin, Germany Application August 10, 1954, Serial N 0. 448,793

4 Claims. (Cl. 204256) The present invention relates to electrolytic apparatus and more particularly 'to a bipolar type of electrolytic water decomposer.

With known electrolytic decomposers of this type great difficulty is involved in mounting the electrodes and diaphragms and because of inaccuracies in the fitting of the electrodes and diaphragms to the cell frames undesirable fluid leakages occur. Furthermore, some known decomposers require containers to be located outside of the cells in order to receive the circulating electrolyte to clean and cool the same and the gases.

One of the objects of the present invention is to greatly improve the construction of bipolar electrolytic decomposers by providing a construction where the fluid circu'it is located almost entirely within the cell frames themselves.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a decomposer wherein unnecessary fluid movement not essential to the electrolytic process is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of, the present invention is to provide a decomposer whose cell frames are capable of housing devices for cooling and cleaning the fluid.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a decomposer which guarantees that no leakage will occur at the connection between the electrodes and frames.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a decomposer wherein the size of the cell chambers may be easily regulated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a decomposer whose parts are easily and inexpensively constructed and which are very reliable in operation.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists of a bipolar electrolytic decomposer which includes a plurality of cell frames arranged next to each other in a row with one cell frame having a side face contacting the adjacent side face of the next cell frame, each frame being formed with first, second and third openings and the contacting side faces of the frames being mirror images of each other. One side face of each frame is formed with -a groove extending from the first opening to the second opening while the opposite side face of each frame is formed with a groove extending from the first opening to the third opening, and these openings form first, second and third passages extending through the frames. A plurality of electrode sheets and diaphragm sheets respectively extend across the first openings of the [frames and are fixed to the latter with the electrode sheets. alternating with the diaphragm sheets to thereby form together with the frames cell chambers which alternatingly communicate with the second and third passages through the grooves formed in the side faces .of the cell frames. A means is provided to hold the frames together in the row. The frames thus constitute a support for the electrodes and diaphragms and the above mentioned passages constitute a fluid guiding means formed almost entirely in this support means.

The novel" features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantage thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectional, partly diagrammatic elevational view of a decomposer construction in accordance with the present invention, the section in'this figure being taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a transverse view taken between the ends of Fig. 1 and showing one of the frames and the supporting apparatus therefor; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the lower edge portion of each frame illustrating the structure for lling and emptying the cell chambers.

Referring now to the drawings, the structure of the invention includes a plurality of cell frames located next to each other in side by side relation in a row, as shown in Fig.1, the structure of eachcell frame 1 being most clearly shown in Fig. 2. Thus,each cell frame 1 is formed with an opening 2 across which an electrode 3 or a diaphragm 4 extends. As is evident from Fig. 1, the electrode sheets 3 alternate with the diaphragm sheets 4, the latter being made of an electrically non-conductive material. The cell frames 1 are also made of an electrically non-conductive material. It will be noted that the peripheral edges of the electrode sheets and diaphragm sheets are embedded in the material of the cell frames which surround the openings 2, respectively. Thus, when the cell frames are formed, either by pressing or molding, for example, the electrodes or diaphragms are maintained in a position where the frames will berespectively formed about the peripheral edges of the electrodes or diaphragms to cause the latter to be respectively embedded in the frames. Thus, as is evident from Fig. 1, the electrodes and diaphragms are respectively located between the side faces of the frames carrying the same. By locating the electrodes and/or diaphragms nearer to one of the side faces of the frames carrying the same than the other of the side faces, it is possible to provide cell chambers of different sizes. Moreover, if the electrodes and diaphragms are located at the same distance from one of the side faces of the frames carrying the same, the electrode carrying frames will have a uniform construction and the diaphragm carrying frames will have a uniform construction so that the cost of manufacture thereof will be greatly reduced,

Each cell frame 1 is formed above the'opening 2. with a pair of openings 5 and 6 and the openings 2 as well as the openings 5 and 6 are aligned with each other so with the assembled frames the openings 5 and 6 form passages extending through the assembly. As is evident from Fig. 1, the end plates 7 together with'tie rods serve to hold the assembly of frames together. The openings 5 form a passage which is adapted to receive the anolyte while .the openings 6 form a passage to receive the catholyte, as will be evident from the description below. Furthermore, in each of these passages,- a known cooling system (not shown) may be arranged so that the electrolyte may be cooled if required.

Above the openingsS and v6 each frame 1 is formed with a plurality of additional openings 8, 9, 10 and 11. These openings are also aligned with each other when the frames are assembled as shown in Fig. 1 to form four additional passages extending through the assembly. The opening 2 of each frame 1 communicates with the opening 8 through a groove 12 formed in one side face of each cell 1, as shown in Fig. 2, while the opening 2 communicates with the opening 9 through a groove 13 formed on the opposite side of each cell frame 1.- As is evident from Fig. 1, the contacting side faces of each pair of successive cell frames are mirror images of each other so that the grooves 12 in each pair of contacting frames form a passage providing communication between the cell chamber on the left side of each diaphragm 4, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the openings 8, while the grooves 13 of the nextpair of cell frames form a passage providing communication between the chamber on the right side of each diaphragm 4, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the I passage formed by the openings 9. Thus, the electrolyteprovided with an easily removable filter (not shown).

The frame 1 located at the right end of the row of frames, as viewed in Fig. 1, is formed with a pair of bores 14 in the portion 15 of this frame (Fig. 2), one of these bores providing communication between openings 8 and 5 of this end frame and the other of the bores 14 providing communication between the openings 9 and 6 of this end frame. Thus, as is shown by the heavy dotdash lines of Figs. 1 and 2, the electrolyte which collects in the passages formed by openings 8 and 9 necessarily moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, and passes through the bores 14 to the passages formed by the openings 5 and 6, the electrolyte then moving to the left through these latter passages, as viewed in Fig. 1. At the left end of the apparatus, as viewed in Fig. 1, a conduit means 16 is provided, as is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, to guide the fluid from the passages formed by openings 5 and 6 back to the cell chambers. This conduit means 16 may simply take the form of a pair of tubes respectively communicating with the openings 5 and 6 of the left end frame 1 of Fig. 1 and also communicating respectively with the openings 17 of this left end frame 1 of Fig. 1. As is evident from Fig. 2 each cell frame is formed with a pair of openings 17 on opposite sides of the opening 2 thereof and the opposite side faces of each cell frame are respectively formed with grooves leading downwardly from the openings 17, respectively, into the cell chambers. Inasmuch as the contacting side faces of each pair of successive cell frames are mirror images of each other, these latter grooves form passages in the same way that the grooves 12 and 13 form passages. Thus, the conduit means 16 conveys fluid to the passages formed by the series of openings 17 from where the fluid flows back into the cell chambers. The conduit means 16 makes it possible to lead the anolyte and catholyte respectively flowing through the passages formed by openings 5 and 6 back to the openings 17 either separately or after being mixed. In this latter case, the conduit means 16 includes a common chamber to which the anolyte and catholyte flow and in which they mix before being returned to the cell chambers.

The leftmost end frame of Fig. 1 is formed in the portion 15 thereof (Fig. 2) with a pair of bores 18 one of which provides communication between the openings 5 and of this end frame and the other of which provides communication between the openings 6 and 11. Thus, the gas which collects in the passages formed by openings 8 and 9 flows as shown by the light dot-dash lines of Figs. 1 and 2 also through the bores 14 into the passages formed by the openings 5 and 6 where these gases extend over the electrolyte, the gases moving to the left in these latter passages to the bores 18 through which they move upwardly into the passages formed by openings 10 and 11. At the right end of the apparatus,

as viewed in Fig. 1, any suitable means may be provided for taking off and guiding away the gases flowing through the passages formed by openings 10 and 11. Cooling systems of any known construction may be located within these latter passages to cool the gases therein.

In order to fill and empty the cells, the lower edge portion of each frame 1 is formed with an opening 19, these openings 19 being aligned with each other to form a continuous passage when the frames are assembled. Each of these openings 19 communicates with the cells through grooves respectively formed in the opposite side faces of each cell, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus, each opening 19 communicates both with an anode chamber and a cathode chamber. With a structure as thus far described the fluid would be able to move appreciably in the passage formed by openings 19, and such fluid movement would serve no useful purpose except when the cells were being filled or emptied, so that this fluid movement would create energy losses and is undesirable. In order to substantially eliminate this undesirable movement the passage formed by openings 19 has a filling and emptying tube 20 turnably mounted therein, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. This tube 20 is formed along a straight axial line with a plurality of cutouts 21 which communicate with the grooves leading from openings 19 to openings 2 when the tube 20 is in the position shown in Fig. 3. Thus, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3 the cells may be filled or emptied. In order to close the cells it is only necessary to turn the tube 20 in either direction about its axis from the position shown in Fig. 3 through a distance sufficient to locate the openings 21 out of communication with the grooves leading from openings 19. This tube 20 extends beyond one end of the holding means 7 so as to be accessible to the operator and carries a valve which permits fluid under pressure to be admitted through the tube 20 into the cells and which may be adjusted to permit emptying of the cells. The tube 20 is made of an electrically non-conductive material.

In order to measure the electrode potential of the electrodes, metallic electrically conductive members are connected to these electrodes in any suitable way, these metallic members taking, for example, the form of elongated tongues which extend from the electrodes 3, respectively, to the exterior of the apparatus.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of electrolytic decomposers differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in bipolar electrolytic decomposers, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

'1. A bipolar electrolytic decomposer comprising, in combination, a plurality of cell frames arranged next to each other in a row with one cell frame having a side face contacting the adjacent side face of the next cell frame, each frame being formed with first, second and third openings, each pair of contacting side faces of said frames being mirror images of each other and one side face of each frame being formed with a groove extending from said first opening to said second opening while the opposite side face of each frame is formed with a groove extending from said first opening to said third opening, said first, second and third openings of said frames forming, respectively, first, second and third passages extending through said frames, each frame being formed with a fourth opening located between said first and second openings, with a fifth opening located between said first and third openings ,and .withsixth and seventh openings respectively located beside saidsecondyand third openings, the frame at one end of the row of frames ,being formed with a pair of bores respectively providing communication in said one end frame between said second and fourth openings, on the one hand, and said third and fifth openings, on the other hand, and the frame at the opposite end of said row of frames being formed with a pair of bores providing communication in said opposite end frame between said fourth and sixth openings, on the one hand, and said fifth and seventh openings, on the other hand, said fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh openings of said frames respectively being aligned with each other to form fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh passages extending through said frames; a plurality of electrode sheets and diaphragm sheets extending across said first pass-age in said first openings of said frames, respectively, and being fixed to the latter between the side faces thereof, said electrode sheets alternating with said diaphragm sheets to form together with said frames a series of cell chambers which communicate through said grooves alternately with said second and third passages, whereby fluid located in said latter passages will flow through said bores of said one end frame respectively to said fourth and fifth passages and from the latter through said bores in said opposite end frame to said sixth and seventh passages; and means for holding said frames together in said row.

2. A bipolar electrolytic decomposer comprising, in combination, a plurality of cell frames arranged next to each other in a row with one cell frame having a side face contacting the adjacent side face of the next cell frame, each frame being formed with first, second and third openings, each pair of contacting side faces of said frames being mirror images of each other and one side face of each frame being formed with a groove extending from said first opening to said second opening while the opposite side face of each frame is formed with a groove extending from said first opening to saidthird opening, said first, second and third openings of said frames forming, respectively, first, second and third passages extending through said frames, each frame being formed with a fourth opening located between said first and second openings, with a fifth opening located between said first and third openings and with sixth and seventh openings respectively located beside said second and third openings, the frame at one end of the row of frames being formed with a pair of bores respectively providing communication in said one end frame between said second and fourth openings, on the one hand, and said third and fifth openings, on the other hand, and the frame at the opposite end of said row of frames being formed with a pair of bores providing communication in said opposite end frame between said fourth and sixth openings, on the one hand, and said fifth and seventh openings, on the other hand, said fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh openings of said frames respectively being aligned with each other to form fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh passages extending through said frames; a plurality of electrode sheets and diaphragm sheets extending across said first passage in said first openings of said frames, respectively, and being fixed to the latter between the side faces thereof, said electrode sheets alternating with said diaphragm sheets to form together with said frames a series of cell chambers which communicate through said grooves alternately with said second and third passages, whereby fluid located in said latter passages will flow through said bores of said one end frame respectively to said fourth .andfifth passages and from thelatter through said bores in said opposite end frame to said sixth and seventh passages; means for holding-said frames together in said row; and-conduit means leading from saidfourth and fifth passages to said cell chambers for conveying'fluid from said fourth and fifth passages back to said cell chambers.

EMA bipolar electrolytic decomposer comprising, in combination, a plurality of cell frames arranged next to each other in arow with onecell frame havinga side I from said first opening to sai-d second opening while the opposite side face of each frame is formed with a groove extending from said first opening to said third opening, said first, second and third openings of said frames forming, respectively, first, second and third passages extending through said frames, each frame being formed with a fourth opening located between said first and second openings, with a fifth opening located between said first and third openings and with sixth and seventh openings respectively located beside said second and third openings, the frame at one end of the row of frames being formed with a pair of bores respectively providing communication in said one end frame between said second and fourth openings, on the one hand, and said third and fifth openings, on the other hand, and the frame at the opposite end of said row of frames being formed with a pair of bores providing communication in said opposite end frame between said fourth and sixth openings, on the one hand, and said fifth and seventh openings, on the other hand, said fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh openings of said frames respectively being aligned with each other to form fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh passages extending through said frames; a plurality of electrode sheets and diaphragm sheets extending across said first passage in said first openings of said frames, respectively, and being fixed to the latter between the side faces thereof, said electrode sheets alternating with said diaphragm sheets to form together with said frames a series of cell chambers which communicate through said grooves alternately with said second and third passages, whereby fluid located in said latter passages will flow through said bores of said one end frame respectively to said fourth and fifth passages and from the latter through said bores in said opposite end frame to said sixth and seventh passages; means for holding said frames together in said row; conduit means leading from said fourth and fifth passages to said cell chambers for conveying fluid from said fourth and fifth passages back to said cell chambers; and means located in said frames beneath said conduit means for filling and emptying said chambers.

4. A bipolar electrolytic decomposer comprising, in combination, a plurality of cell frames arranged next to each other in a row with one cell frame having a side face contacting the adjacent side face of the next cell frame, each frame being formed with first, second and third openings, each pair of contacting side faces of said frames being mirrow images of each other and one side face of each frame being formed with a groove extending from said first opening to said second opening while the opposite side face of each frame is formed with a groove extending from said first opening to said third opening, said first, second and third openings of said frames forming, respectively, first, second and third passages extending through said frames, each frame being formed with a fourth opening located between said first and second openings, and with a fifth opening located between said first and third openings, the frame at one end of the row of frames being formed with a pair of bores respectively providing communication in said one end frame between said second and fourth openings, on the one hand, and said third and fifth openings, on the other hand,

7 said fourth and fifth openings of said frames respectively being aligned with each other to form fourth and fifth passages extending through said frames; a plurality of electrode sheets and diaphragm sheets and diaphragm sheets extending across said first passage in said first openings of said frames, respectively, and being fixed to the latter between the side faces thereof, said electrode sheets alternating with said diaphragm sheets to form together with said frames a series of cell chambers which communicate through said grooves alternately with said second and third passages, whereby fluid located in said latter passages will flow through said bores of said one end frame respectively to said fourth and fifth passages; means for holding said frames together in said row; and conduit means leading from said fourth and fifth passages to said cell chambers for conveying fluid from said fourth and fifth passages back to said cell chambers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A BIPOLAR ELECTROLYTIC DECOMPOSER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF CELL FRAMES ARRANGED NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN A ROW WITH ONE CELL FRAME HAVING A SIDE FACE CONTACTING THE ADJACENT SIDE FACE OF THE NEXT CELL FRAME, EACH FRAME BEING FORMED WITH FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD OPENINGS, EACH PAIR OF CONTACTING SIDE FACES OF SAID FRAMES BEING MIRROR IMAGES OF EACH OTHER AND ONE SIDE FACE OF EACH FRAME BEING FORMED WITH A GROOVE EXTENDING FROM SAID FIRST OPENING TO SAID SECOND OPENINGS WHILE THE OPPOSITE SIDE FACE OF EACH FRAME IS FORMED WITH A GROOVE EXTENDING FROM SAID FIRST OPENING TO SAID THIRD OPENING, SAID FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD OPENINGS OF SAID FRAMES FORMING, RESPECTIVELY, FIRST SECOND AND THIRD PASAGES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FRAMES, EACH FRAME BEING FORMED WITH A FOURTH OPENING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS, WITH A FIFTH OPENING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND THIRD OPENINGS AND WITH SIXTH AND SEVENTH OPENINGS RESPECTIVELY LOCATED BESIDE SAID SECOND AND THIRD OPENINGS, THE FRAME AT ONE END OF THE ROW OF FRAMES BEING FORMED WITH A PAIR OF BORES RESPECTIVELY PROVIDING COM-MUNICATION IN SAID ONE END FRAME BETWEEN SAID SECOND AND FOURTH OPENINGS, ON THE ONE HAND, AND SAID SECOND FIFTH OPENINGS, ON THE OTHER HAND, AND THE FRAME AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID ROW OF FRAMES BEING FORMED WITH A PAIR OF BORES PROVIDING COMMUNICATION IN SAID OPPOSITE END FRAME BETWEEN SAID FOURTH AND SIXTH OPENINGS, ON THE ONE HAND, AND SAID FIFTH AND SEVENTH OPENINGS, ON THE OTHER HAND, SAID FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH OPENINGS OF SAID FRAMES RESPECTIVELY BEING ALIGNED WITH EACH OTHER TO FORM FORUTH, FIFTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH PASSAGES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FRAMES; A PLURALITY OF ELECTRODE SHEETS AND DIAPHRAGM SHEETS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID FIRST PASSAGES IN SAID FIRST OPENINGS OF SAID FRAMES, RESPECTIVELY AND BEING FIXED TO THE LATTER BETWEEN THE SIDE FACES THEREOF, SAID ELECTRODE SHEETS ALTERNATING WITH SAID DIAPHRAGM SHEETS TO FORMS TOGETHER WITH SAID FRAMES OF SERIES OF CELL CHAMBER WHICH COMMUNICATE THROUGH SAID GROOVES ALTERNATELY WITH SAID SECOND AND THIRD PASSAGES, WHEREBY FLUID LOCATED IN SAID LATTER PASSAGES WILL FLOW THROUGH SAID BORES OF SAD ONE END FRAME RESPECTIVELY TO SAID FOURTH ES AND FIFTH PASSAGES AND FROM THE LATTER THROUGH SAID BORES IN SAID OPPOSITE END FRAME TO SAID SIXTH AND SEVENTH PASSAGES; AN MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID FRAMES TOGETHER IN SAID ROW. 